A councillor has been accused of bringing Newcastle City Council into disrepute after a spat which saw the Lord Mayor branded a “fascist”.

Councillor Marc Donnelly, who represents the Westerhope ward on Newcastle City Council, faces a formal complaint over bringing the authority “disrepute” for his actions at a meeting on July 6.

The Independent councillor threw his folders to the ground and crossed his arms and refused to return to his seat after hearing the council’s response to a question over a potential housing development to the rear of St John’s Estate, in Westerhope.

When Councillor Hazel Stephenson, the city’s Lord Mayor, threatened Coun Donnelly with expulsion from the chamber residents roared in anger - with one branding her a “fascist”.

The extraordinary events came to a close when the deputy leader of the council Councillor Joyce McCarty called for a five minute recess.

Councillor Marc Donnelly

Satisfied he had made his point Coun Donnelly returned to his seat after the recess and residents gradually filed out allowing the meeting to continue.

However, Labour and the Liberal Democrats have now signed a joint letter calling for the council to take action against Coun Donnelley for breaching authority rules.

The letter, exclusively seen by the Chronicle, states: “It is our view that Coun Donnelly’s actions in persistently disregarding the Lord Mayor not only breached the rules of city council, they also let down the residents who came to present their petition and address the city council.

“His immature behaviour meant that a serious issue was reduced to farce. The adjournment of city council purely allowed one member to grandstand. Members of the public deserve better than such theatrics.”

It continued: “His behaviour could be deemed as irregular, was improper as was a breach of order and was offensive to the public present, full council and in particular to the Lord Mayor. His persistent conduct was wilfully obstructing the business of council. By standing orders therefore Coun Donnelly misconducted himself.”

The letter concluded: “We would request that you treat this as a formal complaint leading to formal investigation as per the process laid out in the Newcastle Charter. It is our view that Coun Donnelly requires a formal censure and that full council and especially the Lord Mayor is owed a formal apology at its next meeting regarding his disruptive and disorderly conduct.”

When contacted Coun Donnelly said that he did not want to comment in full until he had been formally issued with the complaint.

However, he did indicate that he would not be apologising for his actions unless residents in his ward contacted him and asked him to do so.

He added: “I don’t answer to the council and their gentlemen’s club rules, I answer to my residents who elected me with over 75% of the vote. If I am told to leave I will leave.”

What happens next?

The complaint will be considered by the council’s legal team and Coun Donnelly will be given the right of reply.

A recommendation will then be made on whether Coun Donnelly has breached Newcastle City Council’s rules.

If found to have breached the rules he may asked to formally apologise at the next meeting of full council in September. If he refuses to apologise the matter may then be passed to the standards committee, which has a number of powers - including the power to suspend Coun Donnelly from future full council meetings until he apologises.